Electric switch



Dec. 19, 1939.

J.y A. PITSCH ELECTRIC swI'rcH Filed March l0, 1939 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 19, 1939k UNITED STATES.

ELECTRIC SWITCH Julius A. Pitsch, Hollywood, Calif., assignor of one-half to Ellis C. Harlin, Los Angeles, Calif.

` Application March 10, 1939, Serial No. 261,017

3 Claims.

l in the novel combination of parts cooperating together to produce the aforesaid results.

Still further objects, features, and advantages of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,` which illustrates what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. l is a face View of the construction of the switch showing the same in its assembled condition ready for insertion in a wall recess.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof."

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal mid-section of the switchshowng the same in its mounted. position, a face plate thereover'being included in the view, a portion ofv a wall recess lining member in an outwardly spaced relation to the casing of the switch being delineated in broken lines.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the insulating base showing one of the parallel side walls in position.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the manuallymovable switch member I is made principally of Bakelite or other nonconducting material. Said member comprises an elongated guide plate II from the mid-length portion of one face of which projects a button I2, and opposite to said button there projects from said plate a lower extension I3 having through it a passage I4 which extends transversely to the direction in which the switch member I reciprocates.

Said switch member I0 is guided in its movements by oppositely disposed, parallel side walls aorded by the side plates I5 of the casing structure IIS. Saidcasing structure also includes a base member Il which has raised end portions I8 that carry the mounting extensions IS, which are each forwardly offset at l Sr. The side plates I5 have inwardly directed top flanges 2li which cooperate with the other portions of the casing structure to form a partially inclosed elongated carrying a binding screw 34.

chamber `within which the manually movable switch member I0 can be reciprocated.

The switch member lll may be regarded as having a body portion i3 furnished at its top end with oppositely directed, horizontally eX- 5"- tending Wings I I, opposite edge portions of which travel in guiding grooves 2|, said grooves intervening betweenthe under sides of the fianges 2G andthe raised end portions I8 of the supporting member. lU-'f Within the passage I4 through the movable switch member is loosely fitted aspiral compression spring 2.6, each end` portion of which receives a pin 2T having, outside the spring, a. v plano-convex contactmaking head 23, the iiat 1:63 side of which is engaged by-said spring and the convex side of which is directed outwar-dly.

Each side plate I5 has through it a hole wherein is securedv an electrode screw 3G furnished with a head 3-I which is countersunk ush, or 2U nearlyso, with the inner face of the plate, and which is electrically contactable by the head 28 of the adjacent contact pin 27 of the movable switch member. The outer portion of said screw 3U passes through a conductor plate 32 and has 25 screwed on to it a nutl. Said plate 32 is shown Abutting against the angle at the inner side of` each offset ISx of the extension plate I3, is an` Ielastic bumper 40 which is positioned to be en- 30': gaged by the outer end of the adjacent wing II of the movable switch member when said member reaches the limit of its movement toward that end of the casing, thus to prevent any impact occurring that would make a noise. 35 Through these bumpers 40 pass the screws 4I whereby the face plate 42 is secured in place, said face plate having inwardly directed apertured bosses 43 through which said screws pass. Hence, these elastic (preferably rubber) bumpers 40 not only'deaden the sound incident to the operation of the switch, but they react against the. pressure against them of said bosses 43 and so keep the screws under a tension which safeguards them against loosening. 45

At one side of the button I2, the plate I0 of the movable switch member is painted white,` and at the other side thereof, black, this color indication appearing through the opening l42:1: to indicate respectively the on and oli po- 50 sition.

In Fig. 4, a wall recess member 55 is indicated in broken lines, having apertured front flanges v 56. These flanges cooperate with the mounting extensions I9 of the casing of the switch to re- 55 ceive the usual screws for attachingthe switch to a wall.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the subject matter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric` switch, a casing structure comprising an elongated chamber having spaced apart substantially parallel side walls afforded by side plates of the casing structure and a base member having raised end portions, mounting extensions fastened to said raised end portions, said side plates having inwardly directed top ilanges to partially enclose said chamber, said flanges together with said raised end portions forming guiding grooves, said grooves intervening between the under sides of said flanges and the raised end portions of said base member, an electrode located in each side wall of said chamber, a face plate having through it a longitudinally extending opening, means to fasten said face plate to said mounting extensions with its said opening overlying said chamber, a switch member, said member comprising an elongated guide plate from the mid-length portion of one face of which projects a button and opposite to said button there projects from said plate an extension having through it a passage which extends transversely to the length of said chamber when said switch member is mounted therein, a compression coil spring occupying said passage and having its opposite ends directed toward the side walls of said chamber, and a contact carried by each end portion of said spring, said switch member being mounted to reciprocate longitudinally within said chamber with said button extending through the opening in said s face plate and with opposite edge portions f said guide plate slidingly occupying said guiding grooves, said contacts being positioned to move into and out of engagement with said terminals when said switch member is reciprocated in said chamber, said button reciprocating in a straight line during the operation of the switch.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 and, said contacts comprising contact pins having shank portions extending into the end portions of said spring, said pins having heads of greater diameter than said spring located outside said passage positioned to make and break connection with said electrodes.

3. In an electric switch, a casing structure comprising an elongated chamber having spaced apart substantially parallel side Walls afforded by side plates of the casing structure and a base member having raised end portions, offset mounting extensions fastened to said raised end portions, said side plates having inwardly directed top flanges to partially enclose said charnber, said anges together with said raised end portions forming guiding grooves, said grooves intervening .between the under sides of said flanges and the raised end portions of said base member, an electrode located in each side wall of said chamber, a face plate having through it .a longitudinally extending opening, means to fasten said face plate to said mounting extensions with its said opening overlying said chamber, a switch member, said member comprising an elongated guide plate from the mid-length portion of one face of which projects a button and opposite to said button there projects from said plate an extension having through it a passage which extends transversely to the length of said chamber when said switch lmember is mounted therein, a compression coil spring occupying said passage and having its opposite ends directed toward the side walls of said chamber, and a contact carried by each end portion of said spring, said switch member being mounted to reciprocate longitudinally within said chamber with said button extending through the opening in said face plate and with opposite edge portions of said guide plate slidingly occupying said guiding grooves, said contacts being positioned to move into and out of engagement with said terminals when said switch member is reciprocated in said chamber, said button reciprocating in a straight line during the operation of the switch, and two elastic bumpers, one of said bumpers occupying the offset in one of said mounting extensions to limit the sliding movement of said switch member in one direction, and the other bumper occupying the offset in the other of said mounting extensions to limit the sliding movement of said switch member in the other direction.

JULIUS A. PITSCH. 

